Use professionals kitchen including a builder, electrician and plumber.

Professionals need to be carefully scheduled.

Find out more about the initial considerations, common pitfalls and
experts you may require when renovating a kitchen.

The kitchen is often the most expensive room to renovate in the house
and requires extra care to get it right. Read on to find out more about
what you should consider and common pitfalls to try and avoid.

Initial considerations

Will a kitchen renovation specialist manage the entire project,
or will you engage an independent builder or project manager?

Will you be restructuring the space: altering floor or ceiling;
removing walls; resiting or resizing doors, windows or skylights;
or adding a pantry? If so, allow for extra time and cost. Do the same
if altering the existing plumbing or wiring.

Is the kitchen to be part of a larger living or dining area or a
self-contained space? Will it incorporate an eating area or a pantry?

If you are incorporating imported and custom-built fittings/appliances
order these well ahead to ensure their timely arrival.

Determine what appliances, bench and storage space you require.

Determine whether you will be installing new lighting, power outlets
or switches.

Do existing wall, floor and ceiling cavities allow for the plumbing,
lighting, ventilation and water-heating options and cabinetry you
plan?

Will you be replacing or resurfacing existing flooring?

Determine whether you will use any existing fixtures, fittings or
finishes in the new design.

What colours and styles suit your taste and lifestyle?

How can you best plan around ongoing work? For example consider
creating a temporary kitchen, eating meals out or renting a serviced
apartment.

Expert advice

Your kitchen renovation generally requires help from some or all of
these professionals:

Architect and interior designer

Environmental designer

Kitchen renovation service or builder/project manager

Plumber

Electrician

Carpenter

Tiler or benchtop/splashback specialist

Flooring specialist

Painter

Can I do it myself?

Major structural work and most plumbing and electricals must be
performed by licensed tradespeople.

Constructing or installing cabinetry, flooring and benchtops also
need to be installed by skilled professionals.

Scheduling tradespeople in incorrect order or allowing insufficient
time for each to complete their stage (especially with structural
alterations or new plumbing).

DIYing complex jobs such as removing load-bearing walls.

Wishful thinking in kitchen layout: underestimating the dimensions
of cabinetry or appliances, failing to account for the 'sweep' of
doors, skimping on work surfaces or storage, allocating insufficient
space for 'incidentals' such as waste disposal.

Purchasing fittings or fixtures without first consulting trade professionals.

Failing to consider hazards and workflow when planning kitchen layout.